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April 10, 2014 | Volume 3, Issue 25 | Stillwater, OK

www.theodysseyonline.com | @Odyssey_OKState | Facebook.com/TheOdysseyOklahomaState

EIC NOTE PAGE 2

HUNGERU AT OSU page 3 FAMOUS ALUMNI: FRATERNITY EDITION page 4 GREEK OF THE WEEK: LEANN YADON page 5


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Editor's note

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LIBBY NICHOLAS Chi Omega

Editor-in-Chief

Libby is a senior studying multimedia journalism. You may contact her at elizabeth.nicholas@ okstate.edu.

IFC OPEN FORUM - Wednesday, April 9 - 7:30 p.m. - Student Union Starlight Terrace - Business Casual - Open to all fraternity members Guest Speakers: - President Burns Hargis - Dr. Bird, Vice President of Student Affairs IFC President Tim Krenz, Phi Gamma Delta, will also be speaking at the event. Krenz, Hargis and Bird will have an open discussion about a few important topics to begin the forum. After their initial discussion, the floor will be open for questions. “I have created this even in an attempt to create transparency and reaffirm the fraternal values our community should uphold,” Krenz said.

THE ODYSSEY AT OKLAHOMA STATE EXECUTIVE TEAM President Breanna Fuller Alpha Delta Pi Distribution Executive Tori Brownlee Alpha Delta Pi Recruitment Executive Kade Goodwin Phi Delta Theta Sales Executives Adrianna Newport Alpha Delta Pi Hunter Kashwer Phi Delta Theta

CREATIVE TEAM Editor-in-Chief Libby Nicholas Chi Omega Contributing Editor Thomas Chapman FarmHouse Photographer Jamie Barnes Sigma Pi Megan Noble Zeta Tau Alpha

OLYMPIA MEDIA GROUP 888.272.2595 | OlympiaMediaGroup.com Managing Editor, Kate Waxler Designer, Grant Hohulin

We want a representative from every house! To apply for a writing, photography or sales position, TheOdysseyOnline.com/creative © 2014 Olympia Media Group, LLC All Rights Reserved. The Odyssey is a private entity not associated or governed by University of Oklahoma or OSU Greek life office. The views and opinions shared in The Odyssey are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Odyssey and Olympia Media Group.


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HUNGERU AT OSU

In the United States, one in six people are fighting hunger. One in four children live in a home where food is not guaranteed. While we live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, nearly 52 million Americans are hungry. And hunger is not only an issue in the United States – it is a crisis throughout the world.

Hunger is important. Food is even more important. Agriculture is the most important.

HANNAH NEMECEK Chi Omega

Hannah is a junior studying agricultural communications. You may contact her at hannah.nemecek@okstate.edu.

On April 17 and 18, HungerU, an initiative of the Farm Journal Foundation, will visit Oklahoma State University. Its purpose is to educate college students about the importance of modern agriculture practices and how it will affect the world food crisis. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Student Council will host HungerU. Luke Chapman, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Lydia Blaine, a member of Chi Omega, are two council members facilitating the event. “HungerU is here to inform Oklahoma State students about how we can be advocates for agriculture and help solve the global food crisis,” Blaine said. The world’s population is expected to reach nine billion by the year 2050, meaning the world’s current food output must increase by 70 percent. HungerU says technology is the only way to meet the demand. “Agriculture is the key component to fighting world hunger,” Chapman said. “Without production agriculture, we wouldn’t be here.” Chapman said agriculture must be promoted to solve the hunger problem. HungerU is a perfect way to do so, he said. HungerU will give OSU students an up-close look at hunger by bringing its trailer onto our campus. The trailer features a video presentation highlighting key issues about hunger and agriculture. “The dynamic video presentation takes audiences through the complex, global issue of hunger and demonstrates how modern agriculture continues to support practical solutions to fight hunger,” according to the HungerU website. The tour will also have team members on-site to answer questions or give more information about hunger. The HungerU team will return to OSU a week later to facilitate a meal packing program. CASNR Student Council will gather its students to pack meals for the hungry in developing countries. “The meal packaging program provides volunteers the opportunity to package dehydrated, high protein and highly nutritious meals that are used primarily to support development programs and to save lives in developing countries,” Blaine said. The HungerU bus has visited college campuses across the US including Auburn University, the University of Mississippi, George Washington University, Texas A&M University and others. Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, said, “Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.”

“The OSU Greek community is one of the most influential groups on campus,” Blaine said. “By getting involved with HungerU, we can help educate others on the importance of ending world hunger.” For more information on the tour, visit http://www.hungeru.com, follow @HungerUTour on Twitter or like HungerU on Facebook.


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Scene on campus

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FAMOUS ALUMNI: FRATERNITY EDITION

Did you know that since 1825, all but three presidents have been Greek? Not to mention that 85 percent of U.S. Supreme Court justices were fraternity men; and historically, 76 percent of US Senators were also Greek. These statistics just confirmed something we already knew: great people go Greek.

SOPHIA GIBSON

Delta Delta Delta Sophia is a freshman studying agricultural education. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t sophie.gibson@okstate.edu.

If you’re trying to capture the heart of a future politician, try citing some of your political alums listed below to show them what your chapter has to offer. Alpha Gamma Rho Earl Butz (1909-2008). Secretary of Agriculture. Not so fun fact: Butz had to resign from his position after making an offensive comment. Alpha Phi Alpha

Shippe after his paternal grandfather. Phi Delta Theta

James Baker (1930-present). Secretary of State. Fun Fact: He served as the Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan and President George. H. W. Bush. Phi Gamma Delta Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933). 30th U.S. President. Fun Fact: He was born on July 4. Phi Kappa Tau Thomas C. Sawyer (1945-present). U.S. House of Representatives for Ohio. Not so fun fact: He was expelled his senior year of high school for academic dishonesty. Kappa Alpha Psi Adrian Fenty (1970-present). Mayor of Washigton, D.C. Fun fact: He’s an amateur triathlete and runner. Pi Kappa Alpha

Edward R. Dudley (1911-2005). U.S. Ambassador to Liberia.

Strom Thurmond (1902-2003). U.S. Senator for South Carolina.

Fun Fact: He was the first African American to serve as a U.S. ambassador.

Fun Fact: He served as a senator for 48 years.

Alpha Sigma Pi Ross Swimmer (1943-present). Special Trustee for American Indians at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Fun Fact: He’s an Oklahoma native and a Principal Chief for the Cherokee Nation. Alpha Tau Omega

Sigma Alpha Epsilon William McKinley (1841-1901). 25th U.S. President. Fun Fact: After being shot, McKinley called off the mob attacking his assassinator, likely saving his murderer’s life. Sigma Chi

Robert Latham Owen (1856-1947). U.S. Senator for Oklahoma.

Grover Cleveland (1837-1908). 22nd and 24th U.S. President.

Fun Fact: He was one of the first two senators from Oklahoma.

Fun Fact: He is the only president to serve two, non-consecutive terms.

Beta Theta Pi

Sigma Nu

Don Nickels (1948-present). US Senator for Oklahoma.

Lloyd Bentsen (1921-2006). U.S. Senator for Texas.

Fun Fact: He graduated from Oklahoma State in 1971.

Fun Fact: He received the presidential Medal of Freedom.

Delta Kappa Epsilon

Sigma Phi Epsilon

George W Bush (1946-present). 43rd U.S. President.

Ron Brown (1941-1996). U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Fun Fact: DKE has been home to five U.S. presidents.

Not so fun fact: He died in a plane crash, along with 34 others.

Delta Tau Delta

Sigma Pi

Brad Henry (1963-present). Governor of Oklahoma.

Emory Swank (1922-2010). U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia.

Fun Fact: He was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Fun Fact: He survived an assassination attempt while in Cambodia.

FarmHouse

Tau Kappa Epsilon

Clayton Yeutter (1930-present). Secretary of Agriculture.

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004). 40th U.S. President.

Fun Fact: His last name is pronounced “yigh-ter,” like “fighter”.

Fun Fact: Reagan is the only U.S. president to get a divorce.

Kappa Alpha Order Carl Albert (1908-2000). 54th Speaker of the House. Fun Fact: He was only five feet and four inches tall, so many affectionately titled him as the “Little Giant from Little Dixie.” Kappa Sigma Paul Patton (1937-present). Governor of Kentucky. Fun Fact: Over the span of nearly 200 years, Patton was the only Kentucky governor to serve two consecutive terms. Lambda Chi Alpha Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). 33rd U.S. President. Fun Fact: His middle name is just the letter “S” because his parents couldn’t agree on whether to have the middle name Solomon, after his maternal grandfather, or

Theta Chi Randall L. Tobias (1942-present). Administrator of the U.S. Agency of International Development. Fun Fact: He became the first US Director of Foreign Assistance To the ladies of Pi Beta Phi: I am so sorry for leaving you out of last week’s article! Let’s just go with the fact that you’re actually a Fraternity for Women and pretend it was intentional. Pi Phi Helen Eugenie Moore Anderson (1909-1997) US Ambassador to Denmark Fun Fact: She was the first female ambassador.


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Scene on campus

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GREEK OF THE WEEK: LEANN YADON

There is nothing like taking on some adventure and spicing up your college career a little. LeAnn Yadon is doing just that. LeAnn, junior and member of Kappa Alpha Theta, is from Woodward, Okla. and was born and raised as an Oklahoma State Cowboy. Yadon spent last summer at home and found boredom come over quickly and decided that she would not let that happen again this summer. Without much previous biking experience, LeAnn has decided to spend her summer biking the Across America Tour with an organization called Venture Expeditions. The goal for this organization is to take the adventures and use them as tools to raise money and awareness for refugees in Thailand and Burma. “There is an ongoing civil war in this part of the world,” Yadon said. “And Venture Expeditions works to send food and missionaries to the people who suffer from this civil war.” Yadon has had little biking experience, but wanted to spend her summer doing something to help others. “My motivation is that this trip is not about me, but about raising funds and awareness for the injustices happening in Burma and Thailand due to the ongoing civil war there.” LeAnn said. “Knowing that I’m doing this trip for families and children and people who are in so much need, really puts in perspective the reason for this adventure.” Yadon has had to do some training that consists of hours of biking, running and crosstraining. Although she is excited for training and the tour this summer, there have been some obstacles. “The hardest part thus far has been trying to prioritize schoolwork, social and campus activities and training.” LeAnn said that the term, “there aren’t enough hours in a day,” has never been more true. Biking has brought a new perspective to LeAnn’s daily life. It has helped her view things in an entirely new way. “All of sudden, you are biking at about 15 mph down roads that you would usually fly down at 65 mph. You are just able to take in a lot more of the beautiful creation that surrounds everything!” Yadon will be biking a total of 3,440 miles over an eight-week span, which works out to 75 to 80, sometimes 100 miles a day. She is biking with a group including 15 other people from the United States and one from Canada. Yadon is one of the youngest and the only one from Oklahoma. They will begin the tour in Seattle and finish in New York City. “I actually don’t personally know anyone on my team, which is just fine with me because I am always looking to meet new people!” Yadon said. She is excited to push herself mentally and physically this summer, while building new relationships and learning about different people’s life stories. Yadon is a nutritional sciences major with an option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences. She hopes to go to medical school after graduation. Yadon has also served as t-shirt chair for Theta and loved that it was a creative outlet. Yadon hopes to make a difference with her college career while at OSU. “I hope that

I can be an example and the type of leader that I looked up to when I came to college,” she said. “I want people to know that the scary things are the things that are probably worth it and every stranger you see on campus is just a friend you haven’t met yet!”

TAYLOR FELGENHAUER Gamma Phi Beta

Taylor is a junior studying strategic communications. You may contact her at taylor. felgenhauer@yahoo.com.

Yadon has loved Greek life and advises anyone to become apart of it. “The support is amazing. As much as we compete, I think every Greek member knows we are founded on the ideals of community and support.” Yadon has spent her college career making memories, building relationships and spending time with people, which she is excited to continue on into her future. “Aside from my bike trip this summer, I am really excited about medical school and the whole new adventure that it will bring! Even though it is still a ways off, I am definitely looking forward to getting that white coat.” Read about Yadon’s adventures this summer on www.leannelizabethyadon.wordpress. com.


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Scene on campus

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BEHIND THE SCENES: HOUSEBOYS TELL ALLDELTA DELTA DELTA While making my w a y t h ro u g h t h e kitchens of the sorority houses on campus, I came across two very different houseboys in the Delta Delta Delta house.

MEGAN NOBLE Zeta Tau Alpha

Megan is a sophomore studying english. You may contact her at megancn@okstate.edu.

Joseph Barnes, Sigma Pi junior, and Dan Mesenbrink, Sigma Pi alum, both work for Tri Delt and several other chapters through Keystone Food Services. Although Barnes and Mesenbrink pick up shifts where Keystone needs them, they mainly work at Tri Delt. This is Barnes’s fifth semester at Tri Delt, and he believes his experience is unique because he became a houseboy “completely fresh,” and not knowing any previous houseboys. Mesenbrink on the other hand, said he entered into communication with Tri Delt’s kitchen staff after a philanthropy dinner between Sigma Pi and Tri Delt. “One of the guys said, ‘We need some help back here in the kitchen anyways, so would you like a job?’” Mesenbrink said. He started working in the kitchens in 2012, before graduating from OSU and moving to Tulsa for a, “big boy job.” “Then I signed a Navy contract, and my boss at the time let me go. I knew I could this job back here in Stillwater, so I moved back until I ship out in May,” Mesenbrink said. He added that he will end up in Coronado, CA for Seals training. Working in close proximity to a house full of sorority women has allowed Barnes to observe the members of Tri Delt. As he says, “everyone’s going to get along when there’s cake on the table.” “They’re really comfortable because that’s their house,” Barnes said. “They will tell you if they like the food or not. Apparently there’s no dress code on the first floor, they just walk in in their pajamas like, ‘Oh yeah, the house mom’s not here today,’ so they do whatever.” Mesenbrink said he knew more of the girls from when he was a houseboy in 2012.

“In 2012, I knew a lot of the girls that were there,” he said. “Now that I’ve come back, most of those faces have come and gone. PC’09 was pretty rambunctious, but the girls that are there now are more reserved.” Tri Delt has seven houseboys. Despite coming from different chapters and backgrounds, they work well together, Mesenbrink and Barnes said. “We come in, catch up on some dishes, maybe throw food, and just hang out,” Barnes said. “We all get along pretty well together. Some of the other guys are SAEs, one’s not Greek and there’s no animosity among us, we just get along. Whenever I don’t have a shift, I’ll come over anyway to eat and shoot the s**t and have some fun.” The job isn’t always a walk in the park for these boys. Some days are worse than others when it comes to cleaning up after the girls. Occasionally, they have some little habits that get them down, Mesenbrink said. “The most annoying thing would probably be when they drop the plates in the bucket and they splash you with the water. Some of them acknowledge it, but some of them just turn and walk away. Also, they have a bunch of different toppings in the salad line. It’s almost like a ritual for them to come by and put a little bit of cheese in ever other can. By the time you pull the salad bar in there’s cheese in everything and you have to pick it out,” Barnes said. Mesenbrink’s main complaint also pertained to washing the dishes. “The most annoying thing is when they put things on their plate, take it up to their room and bring it back five days later,” he said. “And then it’s impossible to clean, but I don’t let that bother me too much. Both agreed that formal dinner is their least favorite part of the job, although they do find ways to make it more enjoyable. They said they often joke around behind the closed kitchen doors. “It’s more work, but the party’s what you make it,” Barnes said. One of Mesenbrink’s favorite stories from being a houseboy involves being invited to a date party. The theme was party animals and he went in a full bunny suit with a head mask, and ended up scaring some of the girls. “There were some funny reactions. It was a pretty weird looking mask,” Mesenbrink said. Both guys agree that the houseboy gig is where it’s at: free food, flexible hours and valid excuses to spend time with sorority girls? What more could a college guy want out of a part-time job?


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Ideas debate & discuss

GENETIC ENGINEERING

Chemical Engineers. Petroleum Engineers. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers... GENETIC Engineers? This is a field that you can’t find on the OSU majors list. This is not your typical engineer.

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A major avenue of debate in the greater medical world is that of genetic engineering. This is the science of altering the genetic makeup of organisms in order to produce desirable products (animals), in the most efficient and humane way possible. Genetic manipulation has been taking place since the beginning of time, in the form of natural selection. However, genetic manipulation and genetic engineering should not be confused as they are two very different practices.

Scientists have altered the genome of both salmon and many plants. Why? Well, salmon can be grown faster and larger. They can be Sigma Nu born with more resistance Jake is a junior studying biological and more capable immune science. You may contact him at systems. Plants can be jacob.blasdel@okstate.edu. grown that are resistant to weed-killers. Any plant that is termed “Round-Up Ready” means that its genome has been altered in order to be resistant to this pesticide, when common weeds die at its touch. Again, it’s all business. But do you see anything wrong with this?

When I think of genetic manipulation in ancient times, I think of animals being bred a certain way in order to produce the biggest, strongest, and most efficient animals, such as the fastest of horses, the largest of cattle, and the prettiest of dogs. This could be accomplished by manipulating the breeding of males and females, in order to maximize your desires in their offspring. I’m perfectly fine with this idea, as the animals are not changed in any way. They are still conceived, born and raised by the same means, but there might be more desirable offspring per litter or per birth.

My biggest concern is that if we began with plants and have already progressed to animals (that we consume), why not go ahead and try it on ourselves? Changing the genetic makeup of something before it’s born, when it was supposed to be born a different individual, I think is inherently wrong. Who’s to say that 100 years from now we can’t choose almost any characteristic for our children to have? Do you want him or her to be athletic? Blonde? Tall? Musically talented? All of these are possibilities, and they all begin with a few small steps that have already been taken.

Now, however, we are able to do far more than this. Did you know that the salmon you eat has probably been genetically modified? How about the greens that you eat? Yep, many of these have also been altered from their original forms. The food industry - and now, the medical industry - are on the breach of crossing the line in terms of what’s ethically right and wrong, in my eyes.

So with this, I can only ask you to take time to reflect on these ideas and where you think you stand. Do you think this practice is our way of playing God, or are we obligated to do everything we can in order to better the human race, by way of transhumanism? It’s up to us to make the decisions we can already anticipate, so go forth from this place and be the change you want to see in the world!

Advances in science bring opportunities. This is a positive feedback cycle, in which each new discovery opens two new doors for more discoveries. Yet, playing God might not be to everyone’s liking - nor to everyone’s benefit. I’d like to introduce the topic to you, or give you a refresher if you’re already familiar with it.

JAKE BLASDEL

AN ARK-SIZED CONTROVERSY

One of my favorite sequences in the film is one of the most controversial. The scene in which Noah recounts the story of Genesis to his family on the Ark is one of the most Aronofsky-esque moments, at least in terms of style. This particular part has been deemed controversial due to the filming making it look like the Darwinian theory of the creation of the universe.

Director Darren Aronofsky’s most recent film, Noah, has caused its fair share of controversy over its not-so-biblical retelling of one of the most well known stories in the Bible. If anyone had taken the time to look at Aronofsky’s past films, they would not have been taken aback in the least over the artistically retold version of Noah and the Ark. This predictable outcome for the film has Christians everywhere up in arms over the “antiChristian” and “deranged” way in which Aronofsky chose to interpret his vision of the story. In no way did he promise the film to be “accurate.” In fact, he said the opposite. As a Christian, myself, I can tell you several reasons why the film did not offend me in any way and why it should not be received with such malice. Although not evangelistic, by any stretch of the imagination, the film produces those meaningful and questioning conversations in believers and non-believers alike. The biblically inaccurate story within the film turns viewers to the original story from the Bible in order to compare what they witnessed in theaters to the living word itself. I fail to see how that could be anything but a beneficial side effect from the film. Rather than viewing a retelling on a giant screen, people are opening their Bibles and hearing the story from the mouth of the original author and storyteller, rather than a filmmaker.

ANNA MCDOUGAL Kappa Alpha Theta

Anna is a sophomore studying english. You may contact her at anna.mcdougal@okstate.edu.

What is incredulous to me is that science and Christianity are so extremely dualistic when they, most certainly, go hand in hand. Science is our only way as human beings, the creation, to understand the workings of God, the creator. If anything, they support one another, which is why I have a difficult time understanding the hatred for this fantastically styled portion of the film. Sure, it may not be accurate to what happened so many years ago, but who was there to see it actually happen? What we have are our interpretations and I believe this sequence in the film marries the Creation story with our earthly understanding of how that magnificent design took place. I will say that Noah disappointed me, but not for the reasons that it caused such a hatred among many others. There were only sparse moments where I could see Aronofsky’s unique directorial style, which I thought was extremely unfortunate. The lack of his uniquely stylized mis-en-scene made the difference, to me, from being deemed a good film to a let down. Overall, I enjoyed watching Noah, though not as much as I had expected. If his goal really was to produce an anti-Christian retelling of the biblical story, his choice turned more viewers to the Bible for answers, than away from it.


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Adventure traveling

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GLAD TO BE A GREEK, PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN There is no feeling that compares to the NINA humbling appreciation BLASDEL and love for your Kappa Delta Nina is a sophomore studying country that you hotel & restaurant administration. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h e r a t experience when nina.blasdel@okstate.edu. you’re in Washington, D.C., and I would not have had these experiences if I weren’t a member of OSU’s Greek life. Through the inspiration of my friends in other chapters, I partook in a life changing experience; one that I would never have chosen for myself. A year ago, I did not know both Evan Drew, sophomore member of Sigma Chi, or Alex Tilton, sophomore member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. However, through the wonderful world of OSU’s Greek life, I found myself sitting in a hotel room with these two people, on the opposite side of the country. The three of us took a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in a legislative action summit for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, which to be honest, is something that I would have never imagined myself partaking in. We arrived on the night of Friday, March 28, and none of us had previously been to D.C. We decided to make the most of this little second-dose of spring break, so we planned to have three days to ourselves for sightseeing before the summit. We got to visit all of the popular monuments, museums and historic sites. Unfortunately, our first day was off to a not-so-great start with torrential rain. Between the three of us, no one remembered to bring an umbrella. However, as we emerged from the metro into the National Mall, we didn’t even mind the rain. We stood in awe as we gazed upon the Washington Monument and the reflecting pool. We spent about six hours that first day, at the Smithsonian Museums of American History and Natural History. We asked some locals (who happened to be Greeks at Georgetown University) where the best place for nightlife was, and they told us to go to Dupont Circle. Dupont Circle did not disappoint. We enjoyed walking the streets lined with restaurants and cozy-looking bars, and eventually had a wonderful dinner. Following a late dinner, we hopped back on the metro and headed home.

Whether it was due to the metro conductor’s unintelligible garble announcing the upcoming stops, or our own inability to pay attention, I’m not sure, but we missed our stop. Luckily, Evan realized before too long and we hopped off the subway. We decided to walk around outside at this random subway junction to get some fresh air. As we got outside, we realized we were in the middle of Judiciary Square, where the US Supreme Courthouse is. With an apparent love of the rain and a sense of adventure, we decided to walk toward the Capitol building and kept walking from there. That nighttime walk was, without question, one of our greatest decisions. Due to the rain and late time of night, we got to experience Washington, D.C. without the typical interruption from thousands of tourists. We walked for miles, with no one else in sight, guided only by the streetlights and the distant sight of the Washington Monument. “By the time we reached the Lincoln Memorial, we were soaking wet and exhausted, but it was worth every step,” Tilton said. “It was so humbling.” Too often, we take for granted our great country and our freedom. It’s too easy to forget the incredible trials and triumphs America has been through, which got us where we are today. As we made our way through the memorials, I was full of awe and truly felt proud to be an American.


Sports local

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DRAFTING A DIFFERENCE MAKER

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coaches evaluate these three athletes, it comes down to preference. Teddy Bridgewater is a lanky, big-armed quarterback with decent athleticism. He can make every throw on the field, has great footwork and is smart. His drawbacks are his size; he has a slender build and durability could be an issue. Blake Bortles is a 6’5” big-bodied quarterback with a strong arm. He is not the guy that’s going to scramble for 50 yards a game, but can scramble effectively. His biggest question is his decision making a football IQ. Playing in a simpler offense at UCF, we will have to see how he translates to the pros. Johnny Manziel is the best playmaker of the three. His escape ability and running threat were spectacular in college. He has improved his footwork and is

The first round of the NFL draft is about changing a franchise.

THOMAS CHAPMAN

FarmHouse Teams looking to improve and become Thomas is a freshman studying sports media. You may contact contenders in the league him at tmchapm@okstate.edu. must build through the draft. In this day and age where having a star quarterback wins the game, teams tend to draft a QB early to build around. What are teams looking for in their next face of the franchise? And how can they avoid taking a guy who cannot be successful? The quarterback is looked upon as the leader of the offense, and often the team. As head coaches and general managers go through the draft process, they are searching for that leadership quality, looking for that guy that can grab the reigns and lead their team to success. Someone could have all the athleticism in the world, but if they cannot lead, the offense will not run. Obviously, being a great player is a huge factor as well. Coaches must analyze tape from their time in college and evaluate their workouts at the combine and pro day. This year, three prospects have proved to be the franchise caliber players. Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, and Blake Bortles are all seen as top tier quarterbacks. As

showing he can make every throw on the field. The concern with Johnny Manziel is whether he will go through his reads and run the offense or just duck in run at the first hint of pressure. His maturity may be an issue but big personalities like him have been successful in the NFL before. Recent drafts have proven that not every stud college quarterback will find success in the NFL. Teams like the Minnesota Vikings have reached to take guys like Christian Ponder who has yet to pan out. The Cleveland Browns just released their first round QB we all love and adore, Brandon Weedon, after he had a lackluster two years. I believe Manziel is the best of the bunch and should be taken first overall. The Texans may have had the worst record in the league, but they have the pieces in place to bounce back as a contender with the right player at Quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater is the most polished, and I believe will have a solid professional career. I think the Browns should draft him at number four. Lastly, Bortles has great potential, but I could see him busting. A team like the Raiders, desperate for a difference maker, could reach and make a mistake making Bortles the face of their franchise. Finding a difference maker is challenging. Only about half of the QB’s drafted pan out, and even fewer become great players. Watching teams make gutsy picks or surprising everyone with their selection of who they think will improve their squad, makes the draft fun and interesting. Drafting a difference maker is hit and miss. When a franchise misses, they are set back several years, but when they hit, great things happen for their team.


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Sports local

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BRIGHT SEASON FOR COWBOY BASEBALL Oklahoma State fans held high hopes for our basketball and football programs in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. We all remember the disappointment the end of both the football and basketball seasons brought us. However, it’s baseball season, and the outlook of this year’s Oklahoma State baseball team is extremely bright.

ALEX DEWINTER Phi Kappa Tau

Alexis a sophomore majoring in finance and accounting.. Yo u m a y c o n t a c t h i m a t alex.dewinter@okstate.edu.

The team is 19-9 overall through March 30, and 3-3 in conference. The highlight of the season thus far has been taking two of three from in conference rival TCU. The latest Division I poll, done by the NCAA, had the Cowboys ranked 24th in the nation. The team is led by head coach Josh Holliday, who in his first year as head coach last season led the Cowboys to a 41-19 record and a second place finish in the Big 12 regular season. On the field, the Pokes look to returning junior Zach Fish to lead. Fish led the team in home runs and slugging percentage last season, and was named to the All-Big 12 first team. He’s off to a hot start this year, as well. His batting average is .333 through 28 games and is among the team leaders in home runs, slugging percentage and runs batted in.

PECKS LODGE

Additionally, the Cowboys have senior Randy McCurry to provide veteran experience. McCurry was actually a pitcher and infielder last year, and excelled in both positions. He was named to the Big 12 All-Conference second team as a utility player, and posted a 3.63 earned run average. But this year Coach Holliday has moved him to the closer role, and his experience will prove to be very useful. Already he is succeeding, and in his first 14 appearances he has four saves with a 0.50 earned run average. The team will look for help from freshmen as well, as the 2013 Cowboys recruiting class was ranked fifth in the nation according to Collegiate Baseball. The class includes four players who were ranked in ESPN’s list of top 60 recruits. Thomas Hatch, a right handed pitcher out of Tulsa, was ranked the 31st recruit in the nation, and the no. 1 recruit in all of Oklahoma. He and his strong arm will play a key role for the Cowboys this season. In his first seven starts this year, Hatch hasn’t proven himself yet, though. He is 2-2 with a 5.01 ERA, but he has the talent to turn that around quickly. Additionally, freshman Dustin Williams from Weatherford, Texas, has gotten some solid playing time, and is making the most of it. He is among the leaders in walks, and is currently leading the team in triples The recruiting class ranking was definitely a pleasant surprise this year, but maybe it shouldn’t have been so unexpected. Many people have been focused on the football and basketball teams, but the baseball coaching and recruiting staff just proved that they have something special here as well. The Oklahoma State baseball team has a real opportunity here to go far in the NCAA playoffs, and to hopefully reach Omaha and the College World Series. The talent is there, the coaching is there, and the experience is there. So come out and support your Pokes, we play OU here in Stillwater on Tuesday, April 15, and Kansas April 18 to 20.


Lookbook fashion

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HOT IN STILLWATER

Boys, the time has come! It is finally your turn to get the spotlight. This “Girls Tell All” article is sure to help you out in the fashion and hygiene area where you may be lacking.

Girls in the OSU Greek community were asked to submit their opinions on what they do and do not find attractive for guys to wear, as well as give their input on certain hygienic things that we find important.

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ANNA-MARIE AHRBERG Pi Beta Phi

Anna-Marie is a sophomore studying sports media. You may contact her at anna-marie. ahrberg@okstate.edu.

Here are the results: · Always, always have clean, short fingernails and toenails. Nothing is more disgusting than nails that are dirty or too long. · Fresh breath is vital! If you’re trying to score a kiss, you better be sure to have minty breath. If you have bad breath, all bets are off ! · Be careful with flip-flops. They can freak girls out if not worn correctly. Unless you are at the beach, save those puppies for another day. · Looking for a casual summer shoe? Throw on a nice pair of Jack Purcells, some Nikes or a pair of Sperry’s if you are going for the fratty look. · Make sure your shorts are long enough. They should fall right above the knee, anything shorter than that is not a good idea. · As far as eyebrows, keep them clean. Bushy eyebrows aren’t too cute. It really is ok to pluck those stray hairs you may have so you can avoid the awful uni-brow.

· Smelling good and wearing the right cologne will work in your favor! When a guy smells good, his attractiveness definitely goes up a few notches. However, there is a fine line between smelling good, and giving her a headache because you poured half the bottle on. So be careful with that. · Jorts are great for a date party, but never ok for anything else. Ever. · Wranglers are great, but it is ok to switch it up sometimes. For a nice date, maybe try some nicer jeans. Try the Gap for some basic, good jeans! · Wearing a long-sleeve button up shirt and rolling up the sleeves is always good look. · Facial hair… it can make it or break it. Scruff is sexy, but too much can be gross. If you do have facial hair, just be sure to keep it groomed and neat. Also, don’t have just a mustache. That basically never works. *Guys please note: girls are happy to help, but we don’t want to insult you by bringing it up. So don’t be afraid to ask your girl, or a friend who is a girl, for some help in the fashion area. No need to be embarrassed, it is totally normal! Honestly, we would be a little concerned if you dressed better than we did. So if you just ask for help, it will be better for everyone!

SUMMER FESTIVAL PLAYLIST Summer is rapidly approaching, and for music lovers like myself, it means one thing: festival season. T h e re are m any different choices of festivals with awesome headliners and stacked with sick up-and-comers.

as well as many other jam, rock, indie, and edm acts.

LANE HUGHES Sigma Chi

Lane is a junior studying animal science. You may contact him at lane.hughes@okstate.edu.

The buzz on social media has mostly been focused on the countless big name acts at Coachella, as well as the return of Outkast. While I am a huge Outkast fan, today we are going to focus on nearby festival Wakarusa. It takes place in Mulberry, Arkansas, and has grown partially because of its location in the Ozark Mountains. Beautiful scenery, a wild community, and fantastic tunes all contribute to the wonder of this mid-size festival.

Jellyfish*– The String Cheese Incident Higgins*– Umphrey’s McGee Ocean – John Butler Trio The W.A.N.D. – The Flaming Lips Ramone & Emiglio* – STS9 Doses and Mimosas – Cherub Method of Control*– Papadosio What - Bassnectar Blast Off *- Lettuce Sunroof Cadillac – The Floozies Yell Fire! – Michael Franti Man on Fire – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

This year, legendary bluegrass/jam band The String Cheese Incident makes *Denotes the live version. their first trip to the festival since its relocation to Arkansas. The headliner Bonus Track: SpotieOtieDopalicious – Outkast (Ridiculous horn section generally sets the tone at a music festival but at Wakarusa there are a vast array mixed with Big and Dre’s laid back style. I couldn’t leave you guys hanging on of artists such as local favorites Turnpike Troubadors and the Flaming Lips, the Outkast name-drop.) massive DJ Bassnectar, indie favorite Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros,


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500 words on life

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Self improvement

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ASK.FM/ODYSSEYADVICE Dear Abby, I am a freshman this year, and have recently joined a sorority. I was very unfamiliar with Greek life before I joined, and I am still learning more about it each day. However, I have struggled recently to effectively balance my classes, family life, and sorority obligations. I did not realize at the time I joined that Greek activities would take up such a large portion of my daily schedule. I don’t necessarily want to give up on Greek life, but at the same time, I don’t want the other aspects of my life to continue to suffer. If you were in my position, what would you do? I would like an outsiders’ perspective on this situation, because I really haven’t gotten honest advice from my friends or family. Sincerely, Frustrated Freshman Dear Frustrated Freshman, I can definitely relate to your dilemma. When I first came to college, I was quite apprehensive about Greek life as well. I was the only person in my immediate family who “went Greek,” so I really had no idea what to expect when I first joined. Trust me, I know it can definitely be overwhelming to juggle family, friends, classes and Greek obligations. I also did not live in-house my freshman

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year, so I wasn’t able to make a strong connection with my pledge class or older members. I was honestly very discouraged, and considered quitting towards the end of my first semester. However, I stuck with it, and I am very glad I did. I moved in-house last semester, and it has been a great way to bond with my sisters. Yes, I must admit it can be difficult living in-house at times, especially with so many girls under one roof. But overall, it has been worth it. I know at times you may want to throw in the towel and walk away from Greek life all together, but you have to remember why you joined in the first place. Whenever I became discouraged last year, I reflected on all the reasons I joined a sorority. I wanted to become more involved on campus, make life-long friendships that would last beyond college, and have a stable support system. I know you may not be close with your sisters at this point in time, but give yourself the chance to open up, and don’t be afraid to be yourself. At the end of the day, your sisters will always have your back, and to me that is very comforting. College can be an overwhelming experience, but it is very reassuring to know that you have a place to call home on campus. So keep all those things in mind throughout the duration of the semester, and I promise things will get better. Sincerely, Abby

DISNEY AND NICKELODEON: WHAT KEEPS US YOUNG

My favorite quote from Bryan White is, “We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.”

NICK VELA

Kappa Alpha Order I say it’s my favorite quote Nick is a senior studying international because, until I turned 21 and business and pre-law. You may contact actually had to pretend I was him at nick.vela@okstate.edu. an adult, I never realized how much of a youngster I was. In our own time, when we are by ourselves, we act differently and watch shows that are targeted to the young children in the world. I know I do. As a 21 year old, I will say that Disney Channel and Nickelodeon are two of my favorite networks to watch. Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television channel owned by Disney Channels worldwide. Although Disney Channel is aimed at all ages, most of its original programming is aimed at pre-teens and adolescents ages 10 to16. Interestingly enough, the channel originally marketed its programs towards families, but its viewing audience has diversified since the mid-2000s, and now includes older teenagers and adults. According to the Disney Channel website, as of August 2013, Disney Channel is now available to approximately 98,142,000 television households in the United States. Nickelodeon is also an American basic cable and satellite television network. The channel is said to be available to approximately 98,799,000 television households in the United States, as of August 2013. Nickelodeon is also shortened to Nick and the programs that are aired on the network are aimed to younger viewers. However, Nick also has programs aimed at adults which air at night time. Nick at Nite has many great shows such as Friends, George Lopez, Yes Dear, The New Adventures of Old Christine, My Wife and Kids and Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper.

Now, be careful when you watch Nick at Nite, because if you fall asleep watching the network, you will wake up to Dora the Explorer or “Go Diego Go.” Trust me, it happens more often than not, and it’s so funny when my friends come into my house in the mornings and find Dora on my TV. “Disney channel is my favorite,” sophomore Audrey Memmott said. “Disney channel is just aimed towards girls, I feel like.” While talking with Memmott, she shared that she has many favorite Disney shows, but one that will always be her favorite is Sonny With A Chance. Sonny With A Chance was a children’s sitcom that aired on Disney Channel and starred Demi Lovato, the recording artist, actress and philanthropist. Although the series ended in January of 2011, when Lovatos departed from the show, the series now continues under a new name, So Random. Although Memmott says the show is not the same without Demi Lovato she will forever be a fan of Sonny With A Chance. I am more of a Nickelodeon fan than Disney. However, I will say the series that air, now, on both networks will never beat out the television shows that aired back in the day. ICarly, Victorious, Sam & Cat will never out beat shows like Rugrats, The Amanda Show, Kenan & Kel, Are You Afraid Of The Dark, CatDog, Doug, Figure It Out, Hey Arnold, Legends Of The Hidden Temple (my favorite show of all time), Rocket Power and The Wild Thornberrys. These shows will forever be the best shows aired on Nickelodeon. Shake It Up, Jessie, Good Luck Charlie, A.N.T. Farm, Austin & Ally, Liv And Maddie and Dog With A Blog will also never out beat the shows aired back in the day such as That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, Phil Of The Future, The Suite Life of Zack And Cody, Hannah Montana, Cory In The House and my personal favorite, still to this day, Wizards Of Waverly Place. I mean, come on, who doesn’t like Selena Gomez. It’s just like Avril Lavigne says in her hit single on her self-titled fifth album, Avril Lavigne, “Here’s To Never Growing Up!” Hopefully, all of us still have a little Disney and Nickelodeon forever in our lives. So, Greek life, here’s to never growing up! Happy Thursday!


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Humor lol

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FAKES AND PHONIES

You’d be lying if you said you didn’t act fake at certain points in time.

I know that I’m at my absolute fakest when I’m wishing someone happy birthday on Facebook.

KADE GOODWIN Phi Delta Theta

Kade is a senior studying political

science. You may contact him at Greek Discovery Day was kade.goodwin@okstate.edu. a few weeks ago, and the fakery on campus was at an all time high. Between having a smile on your face that would make Miss America’s mouth hurt and saying things like, “Oh wow, you played baseball in high school? No way! That’s awesome! And you’re a three year letterman?! I’m so interested,” rush is when people being fake is extremely prevalent.

that’s such a great red dress. You look like a tomato!” or “You’re so funny. You remind me so much of Rosie O’Donnell.” With guys, there are two distinct categories, friends and enemies. If a guy’s friend is wearing a stupid looking shirt, a guy will straight up say, “Hey, you buy a shirt like that you should get a free bowl of soup. That shirt is so ugly it could be a modern art masterpiece. I’m not going to say that’s a hideous shirt, but it’s closer to Hillary Clinton than Marilyn Monroe.” That’s not the case with girls and their frenemies, despite the mean things they say, they will never go right out and say what they really mean, which is , “I hate you.” Instead, they choose to remain fake. I’m not saying that everyone who is a nice person is phony. People should definitely be nice (especially to me), and people should feel like they can ask for help without being called fake. There is no umbrella criterion for fakeness, everyone should determine if a person is fake on a case by case basis.

However, we all know someone who is fake, phony or simply puts on an act in everyday life. There’s just something about them that makes you think, “Hmm, this person and my girlfriend have a lot in common.” Either way, you probably know someone whose intents don’t seem quite genuine or the way they act doesn’t seem sincere, and there are several types of people who have a lot in common with Bigfoot.

SORORITY SUE’S WEEKLY SCOOP

The Complimenter- There is absolutely nothing wrong with being friendly. However, there is a problem with the general demeanor that says, “Hi, I know I just met you 37 seconds ago, but I’m going to act like we’ve been best friends since the nursery,” and that problem is that it makes you seem fake. I mean, if you’re treating me like I’m your best friend, I can’t imagine how you’d treat someone whose last name you know. What this person thinks is a great compliment often comes across as sarcastic. If you’re a naturally friendly person, by all means, continue spreading your sunshine and rainbows, but if you’re not, you really don’t have to pretend like you’re always talking to a potential signee. There’s also the person who labels everyone as the nicest, greatest, prettiest, funniest, sweetest and overall best. One minute they’re coming up to you and saying, “You’re the nicest boy ever,” only to go up to someone else and label them as the nicest person ever. At first, you’re kind of sad that they don’t think you’re really the nicest person ever, then you make eye contact with that person, no words are spoken, but you both know it’s on. There can be only one. The complimenter has unwittingly made you and the other person that received the compliment enemies for life. You two will roam the world for the next 40 years, until you meet again, probably on the rooftop of a skyscraper, and have a Battle Royale to determine who really is the nicest person ever. The person in need- This phony lets his or her fakeness shine only when he or she stands to gain something. When this person needs a cash spot after their MasterCard gets declined at Chipotle, they go from a casual acquaintance to your no. 1 fan. The person in class who has said three sentences to you the entire semester will all of the sudden become your best friend when a big paper is due. The conversation could go something like this, “Hey! How are you? Gah, it’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you! Listen have you done the assignment for class? Because I need the answers to questions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7… I have the answer to question 8 if you need it. Oh, and I need 9, 10, 13, and 15. Oh and 12. Thanks you’re totes the best! We’ll have to hang out later.” It’s funny how popular you become when you have something that someone needs. The Frenemy- Virtually everything the frenemy says is passive-aggressive, but the frenemy is almost exclusive to girls. A girl’s frenemy is someone that they really don’t like, but feel obligated to act like they’re friends. Between frenemies, you’ll hear phrases like, “Oh wow,

Hottie of the week: Gunnar Duckworth Phi Delta Theta Sophomore Single ·

Singlehandedly bringing the mullet back.

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Co-Founder of the Oklahoma State Bow Fishing club #manly

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Sorry ladies, he’ll never love you as much as he loves Jesus.

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He’s quite the hot commodity. I hear he’s been to every date party this year. Weekly Scoop

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To the freshman who still have $400 on their meal plan, HMU ·

SO many date parties, so little time

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The fasting days are almost over. Soon you can have your cake and eat it too. #lent

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I may or may not have sold my soul to the devil for a (somewhat) respectable GPA.


Humor tweets

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@Dunkel10: Made it to the point where if I don’t have coffee I don’t function correctly. Not really excited about this milestone. @EliLanger: Instagram has 200M users; Twitter, 241M. Soon, the app w/ pics of your food will have more users than the one that’s overthrown governments. @julesrules1994: In middle school a boy called me pretty but I was too awkward to respond so I just kinda blushed so he said “nevermind” and walked away @CorbinMertz: If I were a professor writing a multiple choice test instead of the answer E being “none of the above,” it would be “or nah”

@joeldrizzy: Opening day should be a national holiday @TylerMCooper: Take a moment and pour a little out for the Dragon’s Lair. Her beautiful structure was knocked down today #respect @HannahBingBing: Someone go blading with me today.. Don’t worry I’m horrible* at it too *I’m bavkup on a roller derby team @ebrawley: Honey, where’s my clothing that says the name of a sports team from the city we live in? I need to go to the airport @KJSikes: Last night I told cam that twitter is the only thing he has going and he gave me a wedgie

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so hard that he ripped my boxers completely off @JESSALYNPM: There’s a picture of The Quality Inn in Stillwater next to “quality” in the dictionary. @TrevorLucas: One of my students thought I was 27 today. Obviously aging faster than anticipated. #AgEd @syd_the_kiddd: Sometimes I have to favorite my tweets first to get the ball rollin @MallorieMcCartney: Welcoming baseball pants with open arms today. I mean baseball season…



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